Very few people have $2 million in retirement savings, with data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances showing only about 1.8% of U.S. households have reached this milestone in their retirement accounts. This places them in a small, wealthy group, as most Americans have significantly less, often relying on Social Security, pensions, and modest savings, with many considering $1 million a major goal, though even that is reached by fewer than 5% of households with retirement funds.
According to estimates based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, a mere 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts. The number of those with $2 million or more is even smaller, falling somewhere between this 3.2% and the 0.1% who have $5 million or more saved.
Achieving a $2 million nest egg for retirement is relatively uncommon among Americans. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, less than 2% of households have $2 million or more saved for retirement.
The Employee Benefits Research Institute estimates that only 0.8% of U.S. households have at least $3 million in retirement savings. This figure is based on data from the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), a comprehensive study assessing American household wealth, debt and financial behavior.
Yes, $2 million should be enough to allow you to enjoy a comfortable, happy retirement that suits your needs and preferences. You retire at 61 – With an estimated life expectancy of 90, you need 29 years of income. Across those years, $2 million could equate to approximately $68,966 annually or $5,747 monthly.
According to the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), just 3.2% of retirees have reached $1 million or more in their accounts (1). This is troubling news if you count yourself among the 40% of retirees who say they'll need at least $1 million for true financial security in retirement (2).
Finally, we compare the 90th, 95th, and 99th percentile (that last is the infamous “1-percenters”). Interestingly, the 90th percentile is pretty flat, around $2.5M to $3M, from one's early 50s to one's 80s.
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).
Bottom Line. A retirement account with $2 million should be enough to make most people comfortable. With an average income, you can expect it to last 35 years or more.
That said, many experts recommend withdrawing 3% for early retirees. You say you've read it's possible to pursue an early retirement after attaining $2 million, and that may very well be the case for some people. But it isn't the ideal figure for you if it means you and your wife aren't happy anymore.
The short answer: to retire on $80,000 a year in Australia, you'll need a super balance of roughly between $700,000 and $1.4 million. It's a broad range, and that's because everyone's circumstances are different.
By age 50, you should aim to have about six times your annual salary saved for retirement, according to guidelines from Fidelity and other experts, though this can vary from 5x to 8x depending on your goals and lifestyle. For example, if you earn $100,000, you should target around $600,000 saved. If you're behind, focus on catching up with higher contributions, utilizing catch-up contributions for those 50+, and potentially increasing your savings rate to 15% or more of your income.
In addition to saving money on taxes, homeowners can increase their wealth by building equity in their homes. Each month, part of your mortgage payment goes into paying off the principal portion of your loan. Over time, as you make monthly payments, you may build increasing equity in your home.
Back in late 2024, Charles Schwab released their Modern Wealth Survey, which found that Americans think you need a whopping $2.5 million in net worth to be considered wealthy or upper class.
Yes, home equity is typically included in your net worth because it represents the portion of your home you own outright. Is equity in your home an asset? Yes, home equity is a type of asset. It reflects the part of the home that you own after subtracting your outstanding mortgage balance.